What is Garage Sale Trail?
Powered by 140 local councils, Garage Sale Trail is a waste education and community building program which culminates in one big weekend of garage sales that promotes reuse and waste minimisation. This year it takes place on Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 November 2020.
When is it?
Councils involved in Garage Sale Trail get benefits throughout the year, with waste education and community engagement resources provided from January onwards. The highlight of the year is a big community building weekend of garage sales which takes place on Saturday 21 November and Sunday 22 November 2020 and follows a ten-week waste education campaign. Registrations for the weekend of garage sales open to the public at www.garagesaletrail.com.au in September.
How many councils are involved?
In 2019, over 140 councils from every State and Territory were involved in the program. 55% of participating councils were regional and over 80% have been involved in the program for three years or more. Garage Sale Trail is also supported by State Government partners.
Why get involved?
84% of partner councils tell us that the program helps them to meet their strategic objectives, particularly around waste and community building. 71% of partner councils agree that the program improves waste education in the community and 64% tell us that Garage Sale Trail builds a stronger sense of community.
You can find out what impacts the program could have in your community by using our Council Impact Calculator here.
Find out more about the following benefits:
There are other benefits, too. Councils use the program to promote services like their tip shops and libraries and it brings different departments together at council, promoting cross team working and helping to build a stronger working culture.
You can find out what impacts the program could have in your community by using our Council Impact Calculator here.
Find out more about the following benefits:
- Waste education
- Community engagement
- Community building
- Economic development
- Positive media
There are other benefits, too. Councils use the program to promote services like their tip shops and libraries and it brings different departments together at council, promoting cross team working and helping to build a stronger working culture.
What does my council get if we sign up for Garage Sale Trail?
Councils participating in Garage Sale Trail get unlimited access to the program for their residents. As many households, schools, community groups and local businesses can register a garage sale for free at www.garagesaletrail.com.au on Saturday 21 November, Sunday 22 November or do both.
Garage Sale Trail manages the community of sellers and shoppers in your area and coordinates a ten-week media and marketing campaign to get people involved.
Councils also receive:
Garage Sale Trail manages the community of sellers and shoppers in your area and coordinates a ten-week media and marketing campaign to get people involved.
Councils also receive:
- A council branded campaign toolkit with localised media, marketing and community engagement resources to promote the program locally
- Ready-made waste education resources to use in council channels and encourage more members of the community to reuse what they no longer want
- A series of online waste education workshops for residents focused on reuse and repair
- Real time data and post event reporting to enable you to evaluate the success of the program in your area. This is provided by a third party research company, Taverner Research
- Support implementing the program from a dedicated Garage Sale Trail Council Manager for your State / Territory
- Access to a network of council peers around the country
- Council promotion on the Garage Sale Trail website and through our social channels
How much time does it take to the deliver the program at council?
Councils that participated in 2019 tell us that it takes an average of one day a month to deliver the program for the duration of the campaign (September – November).
Our approach is to provide you with the tools you need to deliver the program locally in the most efficient and effective way, reducing the time you spend on getting the community engaged. As a participating council you’ll get access to ready-made, council branded materials from media releases to social media tiles and community engagement resources. These resources come together with a promotional calendar with suggested timings for all your community engagement, media and marketing activities.
What’s more, Garage Sale Trail is all about enabling and empowering the community to do some of the work. Sellers are provided with all the resources they need to host a successful and safe garage sale and can choose whether to host a real world or virtual sale. On average tell 211 people about their involvement in the program.
Our approach is to provide you with the tools you need to deliver the program locally in the most efficient and effective way, reducing the time you spend on getting the community engaged. As a participating council you’ll get access to ready-made, council branded materials from media releases to social media tiles and community engagement resources. These resources come together with a promotional calendar with suggested timings for all your community engagement, media and marketing activities.
What’s more, Garage Sale Trail is all about enabling and empowering the community to do some of the work. Sellers are provided with all the resources they need to host a successful and safe garage sale and can choose whether to host a real world or virtual sale. On average tell 211 people about their involvement in the program.
What does the community think?
Residents right across Australia tell us they love the program and unanimously support their council’s involvement. This makes it a great community engagement program as well as a good way to generate positive media for your council.
In 2019, 86% of participants supported their council’s investment in the program and over 90% said they would do it again.
In 2019, 86% of participants supported their council’s investment in the program and over 90% said they would do it again.
How will I know if the program has been successful in my community?
Garage Sale Trail conducts an online survey which in 2019 was completed by 26% of sellers. The survey provides insights on why people participate, what they think about the program and how their behaviours and attitudes to waste and the community has changed as a result of taking part.
Survey results together with media and marketing monitoring is provided to each partner council so they can evaluate the effectiveness of the program. This report is localised and created by a third party research company, Taverner Research
Survey results together with media and marketing monitoring is provided to each partner council so they can evaluate the effectiveness of the program. This report is localised and created by a third party research company, Taverner Research
Can residents participate in Garage Sale Trail if the council is not on board?
Access to the program is restricted in areas where the council is not involved. A maximum of only ten garage sales can be registered through the Garage Sale Trail website and non-participating councils receive no access to Garage Sale Trail’s promotional and waste educational materials.
What does it cost for a council to be involved?
To ensure the program is accessible to councils both large and small, participation costs are scaled based on the size of the council’s population. Councils pay between $1,500 and $15,000 and prices are lower for those councils signing up for three or four years. This reflects the reduction in set up costs and ensures councils get maximum benefit from the program. Get in touch for a quote.
How does my council sign up to participate?
You can sign up now online or contact us for more information. Once you're signed up, we'll be in touch to find out more about what you hope to achieve through the program so we can tailor the ways we support you and provide the relevant materials to get you started. Council registrations close on 31 July 2020.
